10 great hikes to Utah mountain lakes

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There's something about summertime and water. Who doesn't love playing in or sitting around a pool, river, ocean orâ¦ a lake?

In Utah, you can combine your lake lounging with a good mountain hike. Here are 10 Utah trails, in no particular order, leading to a high-altitude lake. Where swimming is allowed, do so at your own risk.

We could make a whole list out of mountain lakes in the Uinta Mountains. We'll pick this one because it's not so crowded. Changing leaves also makes this a good fall hike. The path is rocky, but there's little elevation change from the trail head.

Round trip • 6 miles

Elevation change • 332 feet

Difficulty • Moderate

Directions to trailhead • From Kamas, take U-150 east for 32 miles to the Crystal Lake trailhead. The trail for Long Lake and Island Lake begins here.

Yes, there is a road leading to Oowah Lake, but why drive there? The Boren Mesa Trail takes you through an aspen forest in the La Sal Mountains to reach the lake.

Round trip • 5.6 miles

Elevation gain • 623 feet

Difficulty • Easy

Directions to trailhead • From Moab, take U.S. Highway 191 south about 7 miles and turn east at the signs for Kens Lake. Drive past the lake about 0.6 miles and turn right onto La Sal Mountain Loop Road. Follow it up the mountain 11.5 miles and bear right at a "Y" intersection marked as Forest Road 071. Take that road about 21/2 miles. The trailhead will be on your left.

This lake, with its muddy waters, is not a recreation spot where you want to fish or swim, but it sits in the middle of a tree-lined basin that is green in the summer and changes colors in the fall.

Round trip • 3.8 miles

Elevation change • 997 feet

Difficulty • Easy

Directions to trailhead • From Interstate 15, take State Road 92 into American Fork Canyon. Go to Tibble Fork Reservoir and find the right fork, an unpaved road. Follow it for 4.2 miles. The road has exposed rock, wash outs and will be slow traveling. A high-clearance vehicle is preferable. The trailhead is Shaffer Fork, which also is labeled as "FS 194."

When the wildflowers are blooming this is one of the most beautiful hikes in Utah. If wildflower season is over, the hike through the pines, aspens and a gurgling brook with views of mountain peaks will have to suffice until you reach the lake.

Round trip • 7 miles

Elevation change • 756 feet

Difficulty • Moderate

Directions to trailhead • Follow U.S. 89 out of Logan. Go past Utah State University and into the canyon. From the ranger station at the mouth of the canyon, travel about 20 miles and turn left at the Tony Grove turnoff. Make another quick left and drive up the hill about 7 miles. Park at the paved trailhead.

Not to be confused with a lake of the same name in Big Cottonwood Canyon, granite mountain walls, lush vegetation and waterfalls are the landscape that leads to Silver Lake in American Fork Canyon. The trail begins at the already picturesque Silver Lake Reservoir and climbs a dirt trail peppered with boulders.

Round trip • 4 miles

Elevation change • 1,413 feet

Difficulty • Moderate

Directions to trailhead • Take State Road 92 east to the mouth of American Fork Canyon in Utah County. After the fee shack, follow the road for about 5 miles and turn left at junction 144 toward North Fork. Go about 2 miles and pass Tibble Fork Reserve. Stay on the paved road for about another mile until you see a sign on the right for Silver Lake Reservoir. Travel the dirt road for about 4 miles to the parking lot.

Yes, even in Utah's west desert you can find a mountain lake. In that respect, South Willow Lake is truly an oasis, albeit one that requires a 1,630-foot trek off the desert floor.

Round trip • 7 miles

Elevation change • 1,630 feet

Difficulty • Moderate

Directions to trailhead • On Main Street in Grantsville, turn south on 400 West. Drive 6 miles to the South Willow Canyon Road exit. It's about 8 miles to the Loop Campground where the trailhead is located.

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